Chapter 25: A New Rival!?

It was now lunch. Luke invited Olivia and me to eat with him at the back of the school building. I usually ate in the cafeteria with the girls, but I was planning to eat with him today anyhow, so it worked just fine!

Luke apparently made lunch for me, too—oh…no wonder I never saw him in the cafeteria… and Olivia also had a lunchbox with her.

But, as we walked, I wondered about what had just happened during math… Like, I never knew Luke could be so…social? So I just had to ask.

"Hey…Luke," I said as I tugged on his sleeve.

"Hm? What's wrong, Lilly?" he softly replied.

*Throb*

Wait! It's not time for that right now!

"A-Ahem… Well… you know? I never knew you were so talkative; I mean…even when we were at your place, you'd…tease me sometimes or fire back at Dad's jokes, but I've never seen you talk in class…" 

Luke tilted his head in confusion. Olivia did, too, and it's going in the same direction?!?

"I'm not talkative? Don't I always talk?" he genuinely seems to wonder.

"Huh…?"

I'm confused…I mean, Luke never really opens his mouth unless he teases me in class prior to us dating—I mean, I know since I always glance at him!

"Don't I always talk?" he reiterated while mumbling as he stroked his non-existent beard.

Huh!? To who!?

"U-Umm…Luke, to…whom exactly? Did…you tease another girl while I wasn't looking?" I asked with twirly twisty feely in my heart as I shook him by the shoulder.

At my inquiry, he shook his head hastily. "N-No… It's not like I was just talking to the No's—I mean, the nothingness!" he waved his hands.

"Oh…I see. I'm relieved you just talked to the—"

Nothingness…?

"You're…talkative with…yourself…to yourself?" I reluctantly asked. "In…your mind? Because I never see your lips move—you don't even make an expression…"

Luke's head turned away from me, and he gazed at the floor; his ears were slowly turning red, and his face was starting to flush crimson as well.

"Y-Yeah…talking to—No.—I mean myself…in my head…of course…"

""?""

Wait! Isn't this the perfect opportunity?!

I grinned playfully as I moved and leaned toward him with my hands behind my back while looking up at his cute expression.

"Luke, you can always talk to me!" I vouched with my whole heart.

"M-Me too!" Olivia quietly exclaimed under her breath with a timid and shy look.

UGH!

I clenched my heart.

I know you're just friends. B-But Olivia! You're too cute and adorable; what if Luke falls for you!? Huh!? Have you ever considered that!? I-I mean…you're far more developed in… I'm not envious at all… at…all…

"Th-Thanks, you two…" Luke clumsily scratched his cheek.

…why did it get so awkward…?

T-T

— :::: —

As we finally exited the school building, the warm autumn breeze coursed through the courtyard. Birds were chirping and dancing in the treetops, and it was all so nice—including the weather!

…the silence was still a little awkward, though.

Eventually, we reached a corner, nearing the back of the building—huh…?

I came to a halt. There was a guy and an adorable white cat. The guy was rough-looking and had sharp eyes. Even though he's petting the cat…he seems quite scary…

—I…I'm not good with these types…

My legs shook a little as I pressed my palm against my chest, taking a step back.

"Kayle!" Luke suddenly raised his hand and waved.

H-Huh!? L-Luke!? Why are you calling out to him!? W-What if we get beat up for disturbing him!? A-Also, Kayle? Isn't he the troublemaker!?

Kayle stopped petting the white cat and turned toward us. His glare was sharp, and it made me twitch a little; I avoided his gaze and looked to the side—huh…O-Olivia?! Why are your eyes sparkly!?

"Oh, Luke?" the guy said, tilting his head slightly. He had an annoyed voice and looked and a raised brow. "So? Who're the two chicks behind ya?" he asked suspiciously.

—!? I-I feel like air's stuck in my lungs—L-Luke…

"Lilly?" Luke called out to me as he gently pulled me into his embrace. "What's wrong?" he gently queried.

So comforting…Luke, hug me tighter…

As if he heard my inner voice, Luke squeezed me tighter. I felt more relieved and relaxed, but as I opened my eyes—meeting a pair of blue eyes and white fur in my line of sight, I took a deep breath.

"I'm fine…" I reassured as I pulled away.

I turned to Kayle, who had a frown on his face as he watched the scene unfold—suddenly, he seemed less scary.

"So you're his girlfriend?" he asked in a rough tone with a raised brow.

"Y-Yes…" I replied as calmly as I could.

Luke gently held my hand, so I'm totally fine!

"Hmm, you're just as expressionless as him—but you could work on that body language a little if you're going to match him," he remarked with a shrug.

"C'mon, don't tease her," Luke soothingly voice.

Suddenly, the white cat jumped out of Kayle's lap and ran toward Luke to jump into his arms in just a mere instance.

Ahh, he let go of my hand…

"Woah! Shu, what's wrong?" Luke asked the white cat in his arms.

"Meow!" it replied excitedly as it rubbed its head against his chest.

Somehow…is it glaring at me while hissing quietly…?

*Hiss!*

This cat!?

Okay, never mind, it totally wasn't my imagination!

What are you picking a fight!? Huh!? Come at me! I can fight you, at least!

"Hiss!" I hissed back with ten times the ferocity!

"Lilly…?" Luke asked in a baffled tone.

*Hiss!*

Wh-What!? You're not giving up!? I'm not giving you to him!

Wh-What should I do? H-He likes cats, right?! If I act like one, then it's all good!

Go, Lilly, go! Don't get beaten by the fluffy furball willed with animosity!

I leaned to the side and rested my head on Luke's shoulder; my eyes met the enemy as it stared intensely at me—as we locked eyes, I could feel a grin creep up my face.

How's that!?

I also nuzzled my head and closed my eyes, relaxing in his soothing scent—though we smell the same… I opened my eyes, and the cat had a horrified look as it probably noticed that Luke and I smelled the same. It cried a meow before jumping out of Luke's arms and running toward Kayle…

…I-It's my win! My win, little kitty!

Ha-Ha-Haaa!

"Meow!"

"L-Luke!? I think Lilly turned into a cat!" Olivia cried in distress. "Ah! W-Wait! Luke turned into a statue!" she fumbled.

Of course, I wasn't paying too much attention, so I just kept nuzzling against Luke while basking in the taste of sweet victory!

"What the hell is going on…?" a crude voice was filtered out.

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

Ahh…the cries of a defeated foe…it's like music!

— :::: —

After the whole ordeal, I couldn't look Luke in the eyes for a solid 10 minutes! I'm so embarrassed!

What were you thinking!?

Lilly! What were you thinkiiiiing!?

Wait! You weren't!